Welcome to The Arc New York's Online Collection
Since its formation in 1949, The Arc New York has served as the primary repository for historic materials relating to the field of intellectual and developmental disabilities. Today, The Arc New York Historical Archives hold an extensive collection of correspondence, photos, videos, periodicals, ephemeral, legal documents, advocacy campaigns, and other materials, which capture the progress of the disability rights movement from institutionalization to integration, and the incredible fight of families to realize care and opportunity for their loved ones.
The collection, which spans nearly eight decades, is believed to be one of the most comprehensive collections of archival materials documenting the history of social justice, advocacy, and service for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Among this collection are irreplaceable documents that have been entrusted to The Arc New York for preservation purposes.
The Arc New York Historic Archives project aims to preserve this important physical archive and make the records accessible to the public in a searchable online archive. Tens of thousands of documents, publications, and other materials have been inventoried and digitized. After years of preparation, the online collection launched publicly in October 2018. Archival materials will continue to be uploaded and shared periodically, over time, until our entire core collection has been made publicly available.
In September 2025, the physical collection of The Arc New York Archives was transferred to the College of Staten Island. This is a particularly meaningful partnership, as the College of Staten Island is housed on the former grounds of the former Willowbrook State School, which once warehoused thousands of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in deplorable conditions. The Arc New York was instrumental in closing Willowbrook and other similar institutions, and the college is deeply invested in the history of Willowbrook and the disability rights movement.
Although many individuals can be credited for contributing to preserving our history, we would like to recognize the individuals below for their contribution to The Arc New York Historical Archives and thank the Staten Island Foundation for their generous grant support of the project.
Joseph T. Weingold
President, The Association for the Help of Retarded Children, New York City, 1949 – 1950
Executive Director, The New York State Association for Retarded Children, Inc., 1950 – 1980
As President and then Executive Director of The New York State Association for Retarded Children. Inc., Mr. Weingold played an integral role in the development and growth of what is now, The Arc New York. He is also credited with having the foresight and wisdom to retain decades of documents, journals, photographs, books, news articles, legislation, meeting minutes, and other materials which are part of the collection.
Marc N. Brandt
Executive Director, Sullivan County Chapter, NYSARC, Inc., 1971 – 1982
Executive Director, NYSARC, Inc., 1982 – 2014
Marc Brandt was the third Executive Director of NYSARC, Inc. for 32 years. During that time, Mr. Brandt is credited with the development of a full spectrum of services for people formerly institutionalized in Sullivan County, as well as the development of full community and residential programs.
Mr. Brandt continued the preservation process by establishing a library at the State Organization's previous headquarters in Delmar, New York. The Organization's library was credited as being one of the largest known depositories of materials relating to the field of intellectual and developmental disabilities in New York State, amassing 70+ years of organizational and field history.
Mary Meachem
Librarian, NYSARC, Inc., 1985 – 2015
For 30 years Mary Meachem acquired, cataloged, indexed and classified materials so patrons, staff, and students could access and review historical as well as current information collected.
Mary collected and organized books, pamphlets, videos, professional journals, magazines, photographs, writings, reports, legislation, advocacy campaigns, and other materials. Her tenure with the organization began when the State Office relocated from New York City in 1982 to Delmar, New York. There she began her quest to preserve the irreplaceable materials that were thoughtfully saved since 1949 when the Organization was established.
Laura J. Kennedy
President, The Arc New York, 2014 – 2018
Laura Kennedy served as the 19th President of The Arc New York. In 2016, the Organization‘s State headquarters moved from Delmar, New York to Latham, New York, requiring the library to be dismantled.
Understanding the value of The Arc New York’s collection and the importance of preserving the history of the Organization, as well as the field, Ms. Kennedy established the Historic Archives Workgroup in 2016. The Workgroup, along with State Office staff, relocated the collection to the Warren-Washington-Albany Chapter where it was inventoried, scanned and prepared for permanent storage. Today, thousands of documents and other materials are being shared through this online collection so that our history, and the history of the field of intellectual and developmental disabilities, and the people who are a part of that history are never forgotten.
- The Arc New York Historical Archives Workgroup
- Laura Kennedy, Co-Chairperson, AHRC New York City and Past President
- Marc N. Brandt, Co-Chairperson, Former Executive Director
- Anne Marie Lockhart, Warren-Washington-Albany Arc
- Ellen Owens, West Seneca D.C. Chapter
- Judy O’Rourke, West Seneca D.C. Chapter
- Margaret Gould, President/CEO, The VISIONS Center for Creative Management
- Rose Mary Cella, President, The Arc Community League
- Hal Kennedy, Parent Advocate, AHRC New York City
- The Arc New York Staff
- Christina Canino, Senior Project Coordinator, The Arc New York
Supporters
National Historical Preservation Trust on Mental Retardation
Staten Island Foundation
Warren-Washington-Albany Counties Chapter, The Arc New York